Stampeders get off to better start against Elks
For the first time this season, the Calgary Stampeders entered halftime of a game ahead on the scoreboard.
They probably won't feel like they've suddenly fixed their propensity for starting slow, but was it better? Yes, it was better.
Highlighted by another spectacular showing from Malik Henry, who had 152 receiving yards and a touchdown in the first half, the Stampeders largely dominated the Edmonton Elks through the first 30 minutes of Thursday's tilt at Commonwealth Stadium and carried a 14-3 lead into halftime.
Again, it was not a perfect performance by any measure but for a team that was trying to break its habit of falling behind early, Thursday's first half was a big step in the right direction.
The defence was dominant for the most part. Some of that may have been an injury to Elks starting quarterback Tre Ford, but one way or another it was impressive from the Stamps D. They held the Elks offence to just 108 net yards in the first half and allowed only three points. You don't get much better than that.
The offence had a couple tough moments, but they put up 273 yard, with 68 of them coming on the ground and a further 223 yards coming through the air. Bo Levi Mitchell wasn't perfect, but perfection isn't really the goal here. He got better as the half went on and by any objective measure, 223 yards is a nice way to start. On special teams, too, the Stamps were quite good. Jalen Philpot was dynamic on kick returns and while Rene Pardes did miss a field goal, he hit the other two he was asked to put through the uprights.
All of this matters because, quite simply, the Stamps have been a very good second half team this season, but they've struggled in the first half. It's something that needs to get fixed before their upcoming two-game set against the reigning champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers and, fortunately, there was a lot in Thursday's game to suggest they're rounding the corner.
QUICKHITS
Weird scenes at Commonwealth before the start of the game. There was a fire alarm about two hours before kickoff, and then lightning in the distance forced officials to clear both teams off the field during warm-ups. Fortunately, the delay didn't last long and the game started on time ... Rene Paredes was 11-for-11 on field goals this season, but missed a 38-yarder early in the second quarter ...
The Stampeders probably should have been up by a touchdown after their opening drive, but Ka'deem Carey couldn't hold onto a nice pass from Bo Levi Mitchell in the end zone ... There is no nice way of saying this, but attendance at Commonwealth Stadium was concerning. Yes, it was a Thursday night game and yes, the forecast was calling for storms later in the evening, but one Commonwealth employee told me it was the smallest crowd at kickoff that they'd ever seen at the stadium ... Cody Grace's first punt of the season was a 43-yarder that had just the right amount of his patented hangtime ... Elks QB Tre Ford had to leave the game early in the first quarter with what appeared to be a right shoulder injury. Nick Arbuckle was ready in relief. Ford had just completed an incredible pass to Kai Locksley after escaping a Cam Judge sack ... Jonathan Moxey can really hit. He crushed Emmanuel Arceneaux in the first quarter ... Dave Dickenson used his coach's challenge late in the first quarter after the Stamps did a flea-flicker and Mitchell aired the ball out deep to Malik Henry. There was pretty clear pass interference on the play, and the Stamps actually won the challenge. It earned them 33 yards ... The Stamps were right on the doorstep of their first touchdown early in the second quarter, but gave up two consecutive sacks. That doubled the number of sacks they've allowed this season — they'd allowed only two through three games so far in 2022.